Assemblywoman Mary Hayashi charged with shoplifting at Neiman Marcus

Democratic Assemblywoman Mary Hayashi of Castro Valley has been charged with felony grand theft after being caught on video surveillance allegedly shoplifting more than $2,000 worth of merchandise from San Francisco’s Neiman Marcus store on Union Square, prosecutors say.

Hayashi, 45, who has served in the Assembly since 2006 — and is married to Alameda Superior Court Judge Dennis Hayashi — was arraigned Thursday in San Francisco Superior Court. She had earlier posted $15,000 bail.

Hayashi was stopped by Neiman Marcus’ security detail shortly after leaving the store around 12:15 p.m. Tuesday with a shopping bag that included three items worth $2,450 that she hadn’t paid for when she checked out at the register, the district attorney’s office said.

Prosecutors did not specify what the items were, but a source familiar with the case tells us they were leather pants, a black skirt and white blouse.

Hayashi was questioned by police at the Tenderloin Station and eventually booked at the County Jail on one count of felony theft. She pleaded not guilty Thursday before Judge Samuel Feng and is due back in court Nov. 15 to set a preliminary hearing.

District attorney’s spokesman Omid Talai said a grand theft conviction carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison, although it’s unlikely Hayashi would face the stiffest penalty because, according to authorities, this was her first arrest.

Hayashi spokesman Sam Singer called the assemblywoman’s arrest a mistake, saying she had walked out of the store with the items unintentionally and intended to go back.

Hayashi is “distraught by this misunderstanding,” Singer said, “and she believes this will be cleared up in the near future.’’

He added, “She apologizes for any misunderstandings.’’

Just two years ago, Hayashi pumped at least $202,212 of her own campaign money into helping elect her lawyer husband to the Alameda County bench.

Hayashi was born in South Korea and was the first Korean American woman to be elected to the state Legislature, according to her legislative biography. She chairs the Assembly Committee on Business, Professions and Consumer Protections.

Before winning election from the 18th Assembly District, which includes Hayward, San Leandro, Castro Valley and Dublin, Hayashi was a public health analyst and member of the state Board of Registered Nursing.